Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Gastonia, North Carolina, January 5, 1982
On January 5, 1982 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N2139T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gastonia, North Carolina. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 1982 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Gastonia, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2139T · registry record · serial 7135145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE PROPELLER SPEED WENT TO 3000 RPM. THE PILOT RETARDED THE PROP CONTROL, AND MAINTAINED 2400 RPM. HE PROCEEDED TO THE GASTONIA AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. A GROUND RUN-UP WAS MADE AND ALL INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS CHECKED NORMAL. HOWEVER, THE PILOT DID NOT SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE OR EXIT THE AIRCRAFT. A WITNESS OBSERVED OIL ON THE AIRCRAFT, BUT BEFORE HE GOT TO THE PLANE, THE PILOT TOOK- OFF. THE WITNESS SAW OIL ON THE RAMP WHERE THE AIRCRAFT HAD STOPPED. LATER AT 1600 FEET MSL, THE ENGINE WENT TO 3000 RPM AND THE PILOT NOTED A DROP IN OIL PRESSURE. IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK AND LOSE POWER. THE LEFT GEAR FAILED DURING LANDING IN A SMALL PASTURE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED OIL HAD ESCAPED FROM THE BASE OF THE OIL FILTER, WHERE THE OIL SEAL WAS OUT OF ITS GROOVE. A 100 HOUR INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE PREVIOUS DAY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,525 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 268 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,344 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southeast Airmotive CORP
The flight
- Departed from: 1A5 Charlotte NC at 12:35 pm
- Destination: CLT Franklin NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.